What Are You Thinking About?

[badkuk]

^
Family reunion? ☺

Am thinking why security guards at malls insist on having you take your cap off as you enter, yet fail to do an in depth search of your bags.

It's not like you can hide a whole lot up there. And wouldn't it be easier to scan it with the metal detector.

Naghahanap ng poknat? Or gusto malaman kung kulot or hinde? 🤔

Probably because they want to catch your face on CCTV?

[falken]

Probably because they want to catch your face on CCTV?

That's it.

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[Niner_seven]

Thinking of where and how to do Christmas shopping. Even just for the immediate family.

[dr. d]

Thinking of where and how to do Christmas shopping. Even just for the immediate family.

world trade center.

[MR_BIG18]

Thank You BIOMAN !!! - YouTube

kaya pa kaya nilang mag tumbling?

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[shadow]

Someone we used to call "Mr. Tagumpay" ang taong walang kapalpakan sa buhay. [emoji23]




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[CVT]

‘Papa Bear,’ ‘Mama Bear,’ ‘Ice Queen’ | Inquirer Opinion

‘Papa Bear,’ ‘Mama Bear,’ ‘Ice Queen’

By: Solita Collas-Monsod - *inquirerdotnetPhilippine Daily Inquirer / 05:28 AM December 02, 2017
The Senate version of the much-vaunted TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion), Senate Bill No. 1592, was passed this week. Let me tell you, Reader, and I am joined by highly respected colleagues in this view, that it leaves much to be desired.

We need this tax reform program because the administration’s platform is based on a “Build, Build, Build” program to improve the country’s infrastructure—not only physical (roads, bridges, etc.) but also human (i.e., to improve the people’s education, skills, training) and even natural. President Duterte wants to accelerate our pace of development.

The problem lies in the fact that with the current tax structure, the government cannot finance it. We have a structure that is old, creaky and full of loopholes. For example, our excise taxes on fuel haven’t been changed in 20 years. In 1998, fuel excises constituted around 50 percent of fuel prices—the same as other countries. Now they constitute maybe 10 percent.

For loopholes, how about our value-added taxes (VAT)? Sure, we have about the highest VAT rate in the region, but there are so many exemptions. Sen. Panfilo Lacson pointed this out when he said that the Philippines’ exemptions were more than those of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia put together (PH=143, T+I+M+V=111).

So, to raise the funds to finance our Philippine Development Plan and to make up for the needed reductions in personal income tax, we need to streamline and update our tax structure. That’s what the Department of Finance set out to do. Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez was reported to have said that his proposed increase in the fuel excises would bring in P177 billion, and that removing the VAT exemptions would bring in P166 billion.

Hence the tax reform—to pay for the physical infrastructure and human capital development (P40 billion for free college tuition). And there’s universal healthcare, estimated at around P50 billion, etc. And then we have to make sure that the poor are not further marginalized.

So what happened? Well, for one, all the foregoing—the country’s needs—took a back seat to the individual needs of our senators. Someone monitoring the discussions told me that this was the first time (in three Congresses) that the senators were so open about what they wanted for themselves.

They even had pet names for themselves, like “Papa Bear” (Gordon, I am told), “Mama Bear” (Villar supposedly), and “Ice Queen” (allegedly Legarda). And if their individual needs or interests clashed with the needs of tax reform, guess who won?

Example: Sen. Sonny Angara’s interests led him to include ecozones (not just direct exporters) among those with VAT zero rating, thus adding to, rather than reducing, the exemptions. And anything that would affect real estate was given wide berth, to accommodate Mama Bear.

When the senators realized that their pet insertions had reduced the expected revenues of the tax reform, they scrambled to add more revenue-raising provisions. And so you had a doubling of the documentary stamps tax, a doubling of the minerals excise tax, a tax on coal 10 to 30 times its present rate. Is that good? No. No one bothered to check what the overall impact would be. As a colleague described it: all whimsical or arbitrary, all without the benefit of complete staff work.

The senators did arrange for the cash transfers to the poor for three years: The additional revenues from TRAIN would be divided into 60 percent for physical infrastructure, 27 percent for human infrastructure (including the cash transfers), and 13 percent for the Armed Forces. However, if the poor are to get the P50.4 billion envisaged (P3,600 a year x 14 million families—yes, the Senate considers the poor to comprise 70 percent of our families), revenues from the Senate’s TRAIN should be at least P187 billion. The latest estimated revenues are about P120 billion.

Yet, in spite of the need to raise revenues, sin taxes (with complete supporting studies) were not even considered. Senators Manny Pacquiao and JV Ejercito presumably were convinced not to pursue this, because anyway, it will be included in TRAIN II “early” next year. Anybody want to bet on that? Elections are coming, and taxes and elections do not mix well

If you really think about it,- pampapogi lang ang version ng senado on income taxes,- where they tax the gross income after deducting P82K (and where the first P250K is without tax)

If my interpretation is correct,- the House version is better on income tax as you deduct the P82K and the personal exemption (P50K + P25K for each child up to a max of 4), before you start with the tax table where the first P250K is without tax.

Kanya-kanya ang mga Senador sa kanilang mga interest and this article paints that picture....

Si Villar,- marami kasing lupa iyan,- and your perception on how they acquired them is as good as mine,- but then you still get your profit after the government taxed them,- di ba? The BigG indeed is insatiable....

[badkuk]

Not sure if my taste buds are going bad...lately pag nagluluto ako(mostly stews) i feel like the sauce is ok, pero yung karne walang lasa. i usually stew for hours. Pati ung lasa ng karne nawawala. Nasasarapan naman ung iba sa luto ko.

Either that or nasanay lang ako sa aji-ginisa/magic sarap?

[benchman]

Not sure if my taste buds are going bad...lately pag nagluluto ako(mostly stews) i feel like the sauce is ok, pero yung karne walang lasa. i usually stew for hours. Pati ung lasa ng karne nawawala. Nasasarapan naman ung iba sa luto ko.

ganyan talaga, nasanay or nauumay ka na lang bro sa mga niluluto mo.

[minicarph]

subukan mo kumain sa jollibee, sigurado biglang sasarap ang luto mo. pagkain ng jollibee synthetic na, di pa pwede ma DTI na yan fastfood chain na yna

[StockEngine]

Not sure if my taste buds are going bad...lately pag nagluluto ako(mostly stews) i feel like the sauce is ok, pero yung karne walang lasa. i usually stew for hours. Pati ung lasa ng karne nawawala. Nasasarapan naman ung iba sa luto ko.

Either that or nasanay lang ako sa aji-ginisa/magic sarap?

had the same thing. i think the "ginisa" is a factor. this is the filipino umami...

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[Jun aka Pekto]

Wishing I was still at Albuquerque (Thanksgiving holidays with friends). Much colder up in at the mountains.

[sphinxz]

Are there any other functional uses for tow hooks aside from towing? I have been seeing these on the road and FB feed more frequently.

[StockEngine]

Are there any other functional uses for tow hooks aside from towing? I have been seeing these on the road and FB feed more frequently.

rear end protection from bad drivers and drivers using their phones...

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[dr. d]

Are there any other functional uses for tow hooks aside from towing? I have been seeing these on the road and FB feed more frequently.

"bragging rights".

[sphinxz]

rear end protection from bad drivers and drivers using their phones...

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I mean the ones in the front bumper, not the ones in the tow hitch receiver. But yes, that is quite a good protection, too.

[StockEngine]

ahhh toe hook. madali manakaw yan stock ah.

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[sphinxz]

"bragging rights".

I wouldn't want to brag if I'm towed. 😂 But I got your point.

[WallyWest]

I mean the ones in the front bumper, not the ones in the tow hitch receiver. But yes, that is quite a good protection, too.

I see it as more of a negative coz if you accidentally back up against another car there'll be more damage. Same with the front.

Are those tow hooks actually functional? They don't look sturdy at all.

...

[dr. d]

Are there any other functional uses for tow hooks aside from towing? I have been seeing these on the road and FB feed more frequently.

errr... is that the one with a winch as well?
those two go hand-in-hand. for off-road bogging downs.

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I wouldn't want to brag if I'm towed. 😂 But I got your point.

as wally says, the car in front will, too.